SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's soccer program will battle the University of South Carolina on Friday night under the lights of Stone Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
USC Upstate (0-1-0) and South Carolina (1-1-0) are meeting for just the third time in program history. The Gamecocks have won the previous two meetings dating back to the 2017 campaign. Last season, South Carolina defeated USC Upstate 2-0 in front of a crowd of nearly 1600 people. The Gamecocks have outscored the Spartans 4-1 over the past two meetings.
The USC Upstate men's soccer team is coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss to North Florida on Friday afternoon. The Spartans fouled a North Florida player just outside the 18-yard box and the ball hit off the top corner of the crossbar, but found the sliding foot of an Osprey player to give USC Upstate the loss.
The Spartans are one of the most physical teams in the nation, recording 20 fouls in their first match against North Florida. USC Upstate goalie
Luca Bulfon currently ranks 72
nd nationally in Goals Against Average (.970) and 80
th nationally in save percentage (.750).
The Gamecocks are coming off a 2-1 overtime victory over fellow Big South opponent Gardner-Webb. The Bulldogs got on the board first in the 46
th minute of action, South Carolina countered with a penalty kick in the 78
th minute. Then in the 92
nd minute, Tucker Monheimer scored the game-winning goal for the Gamecocks.
Gamecocks goalie Buenyamin Yusufoglu currently leads the nation in saves per game with 16 on the season. As a team South Carolina ranks fourth nationally in saves per game with eight and they rank 48
th nationally in assists per game (1.50).
Links to both the live stream and the live stats can be found on
www.upstatespartans.com, tickets to the event can be found at
www.gamecocksonline.com.
Follow USC Upstate men's soccer on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateMSoccer), Instagram (@upstatespartans) and YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics).
